From: Reid, Robert A. <REIDRA>
Date: Thu, 9 Jun 2005 07:30:27 -0500

I require my Literature for Adolescents students to read Weetzie Bat, knowing from previous experience that it will lend itself to a very charged discussion. Like The Chocolate War, about 2/3 of the students hate the book and about 1/3 of the students are passionate about it. Their comments range from "That was the longest 88 pages I've ever read" and "Now, here's a good case for censorship" to "I wish my boyfriend would talk to me like that" and "I am Weetzie Bat!" (More than one college student - most of them future secondary English teachers or librarians - have uttered "I am Weetzie Bat" or I was Weetzie Bat in high school.")
  I introduce the writings of Gabriel Garcia Marquez and other authors who blend magic and realism to tell their stories, since many of my students are turned off by the appearance of the genie (and the casual sex, gay issues, etc.). We talk about unconventional families, poetry and love and most importantly - which teens Block's books speak to. A surprising number of teens in our mid-sized midwestern town have passed the Weetzie Bat books around. My own daughter became so enamored of Block that she wrote an admissions essay to her college in the writing style of Block and received a phone call from an admissions officer complimenting her.
  I'm glad that the Margaret Edwards Awards Committee recognized Francesca Lia Block's place in young adult literature. No, she's not for everyone, but her voice is definitely important.
  Rob Reid University of Wisconsin?u Claire
Received on Thu 09 Jun 2005 07:30:27 AM CDT